Online Associate Criminal Justice Degrees
Criminal justice degrees online allow you to tailor your studies to your goals. Choose a general corrections education, or specialize your studies with a concentration at schools that offer the option. Take, for example, the specializations offered by one online school:
- Client services/corrections
- Criminal offenders
- Homeland security
- Investigation/law enforcement
- Law enforcement
- Forensic psychology
The emphasis you choose affects the coursework required by your degree program. In addition to concentrations, some schools offer certificates, diplomas and other training designed to supplement a general criminal justice degree. College training is required by some agencies that hire police and detectives, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and law enforcement studies after high school are often recommended in this field.
Requirements for online associate degrees in criminal justice
Course requirements for criminal justice degrees online may vary by program and specialization. A typical program that requires about 64 credit hours might split that total into 34 hours in general education requirements, 18 hours in core courses, and 12 hours in a track of your choice, such as police, corrections or loss prevention.
Coursework in criminal justice covers standard topics like police work, juvenile studies, corrections, probation and parole. Associate degree programs in criminal justice are designed with flexibility in mind, giving you the chance to select the courses that apply to your future path.
